Nichols: Rumors of Stuck crime scene tampering false

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By Drew Van DykeMMI Editor

Moberly Monitor-Index - Moberly, MO

By Drew Van DykeMMI Editor

Posted Dec. 20, 2013 at 10:56 AM

By Drew Van DykeMMI Editor
Posted Dec. 20, 2013 at 10:56 AM

The MMI recently received a news tip from a local resident, stating that she noticed persons who were not law enforcement officials going into and carrying items out of the home of former Huntsville Police Chief William W. "Buddy" Stuck on the date of his death (Nov. 27 of this year). She said that the home was not marked off as a crime scene by police, either.

When asked about this, Randolph County Sheriff Mark Nichols said that such talk was nothing more than "coffeeshop rumor."

"During the investigation inside, anyone who went in or left was logged," he said. Nichols noted that his department collected "any and all evidence" from Stuck's residence on the morning of his death. This included taking photographs of the interior and exterior of the home.

"As far as after we left the area," Nichols said, "there was no crime scene."

Stuck was found dead in his home in the early morning hours of Nov. 27. An autopsy on his body later that week concluded that his death was caused by a single gunshot wound to the lower abdomen, the likes of which struck his aorta. Randolph County Coroner Gerald Luntsford last week noted in a release to the public that the wound killed Stuck within three minutes.

Nichols noted that Stuck's body was removed from the crime scene by ambulance crews because they felt there was still a chance they could save his life.

"Apparently, the ambulance service saw some form of life before they removed the body," he said.

Nichols has previously stated that the gunshot wound was created by a duty weapon in Stuck's possession. The Missouri Federation of Police Chiefs is calling his death an accident.

Luntsford noted in his release that the gun, bullet, and other evidence from the crime scene have been sent to the lab for further analysis, and said the results of such would be released in six weeks.